Moses Lake council tables well ordinance

Additional meeting set for exemptwell drilling

MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake City Council tabled the second reading of a water regulation ordinance prohibiting the drilling of private wells within city limits Tuesday night.

After the public comment period, Mayor Ron Covey scheduled a study session in the council chambers for July 10 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the ordinance further. Several citizens called for the additional session.

Previously the ordinance included regulating well drilling in the Urban Growth Area. It was removed after several questions were asked related to enforcing the prohibition. Several citizens expressed relief for the exclusion of the portion of the ordinance.

During the public comment period Developer Gary Mann said the ordinance is confusing and may inhibit insurance companies from insuring homes and may cause banks to decline home loans for properties affected by the ordinance. Due to the wording of the ordinance, it may confuse many entities and could stop development, he said.

Moses Lake-Othello Association of Realtors President Mary Thorn questioned whether private wells actually contaminate city water systems. According to the ordinance, the prohibition is necessary to control contaminants.

She requested the city conduct a formal study to resolve the contaminant issue.

Thorn said the ordinance impacts citizen's property rights.

She said if a property owner wants to drill a well because city water is not readily available, they should be able to do so.

Citizens in the audience applauded her remarks.

Citizen Bonnie Thompson questioned who was to blame for dropping water levels in the city water system.

According to the ordinance, the prohibition of exempt wells is necessary because the city water level is decreasing 1 to 2 feet per year.

She said the water levels may be lower due to additional city customer hook-ups to the system rather than private wells pulling water from the same aquifers used by the city.

City Attorney Jim Whitaker said he didn't know if private wells were pulling from the same aquifers.

"Could be due to lots of reasons," City Manager Joe Gavinski said.

She said the issue should be studied further because the reasons for the ordinance appear to be based on assumptions rather than facts.

Citizen Stacy Sanislo asked for a specific measurement of how low the water levels are in the city system. She said a variance of 1 or 2 feet is a large estimate for a water system used by the city.

She said exact measurements should be considered with the ordinance.

"(The ordinance) will stop growth," Sanislo said. "We would appreciate you basically voting no on it at this time."

Citizen Harold Hochstatter said it appears the city is attempting to gain a monopoly of the water. He said the city is more expensive to hook up to rather than a private system.

"Am I getting a little closer to the real issue here?" he asked. "Some of us are really ticked about it and it needs to stop."

Citizens in the audience applauded Hochstatter and some called out "Amen."

Councilmember Jon Lane was absent from the meeting.